Tell Me about .30-06 crimp dies

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1KPerDay

1KPerDay

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I have so far only loaded for my Garand and Springfield rifles using ball and Nosler CC pills so no crimp needed. My Lee dies came with a dead length seating die which doesn't crimp. Should I buy a factory crimp die for cast pills or is there another option I should consider? I used the rifle FCD for .30-30 and cast bullets and it worked fine.
 
I'm sure a light FCD will be fine with Cast bullets. I'm not a fan of seating and crimping cast bullets in one step with rifle ammo. In reality, you're really not crimping, your only ironing out the bell you added.
 
Right. I don't expand or bell with jacketed bullets and don't crimp them. But lead bullets shave unless you expand before seating. Wondered if there was a demonstrably better option than the FCD. Anyone here shoot a lot of cast bullets in .30-06?
 
1KPerDay said:
Right. I don't expand or bell with jacketed bullets and don't crimp them. But lead bullets shave unless you expand before seating. Wondered if there was a demonstrably better option than the FCD. Anyone here shoot a lot of cast bullets in .30-06?
Click to expand...
I didn't realize you set didn't already have the FCD before I read it again. No, no need to buy another die. Just seat and crimp in two separate operations with the die you already own. IMO that die will probably iron out the flare better than a FCD but I'm guessing. Hey, give it a try and see if you like the results. You could save the cost of another die if you do.
 
When reloading for my Garand I started lightly crimping with a Lee FCD for rifle cartridges. Most of my brass is Hornady, HXP and a few LC. I tried skipping the crimp and tested a few; fire a few rounds then eject a fed but unfired round. Checked OAL. Did this several times with each kind of brass and found no changes in OAL. I tried loading some .223 for my Handi-Rifle and crimping with an FCD mostly as an experiment in accuracy, crimped vs. uncrimped. No noticeable difference...

When shooting cast in my rifles, I normally use a roll crimp although I have not thoroughly tested the need.

My conclusion; ammo fired in bolt guns and single shots prolly won't need crimping and ammo in semi-autos should be tested. Now ammo loaded into a tubular magazine should be crimped...
 
Okeedoke and thanks, but I'm talking specifically about cast lead pills in a bolt gun, which need to be expanded to seat without shaving and thus need to be crimped at least somewhat. I'm not asking about whether standard jacketed rifle bullets need to be crimped (I know they don't) or whether Garand loads need to be crimped (I know they don't).
 
1KPerDay said:
cast lead pills in a bolt gun,
Click to expand...

I expanded with a Lyman "M" die. Loaded and fired without a crimp in 30-30 , M94, TC Contender and 30-06, 1903 Springfield, Remington 760 Gamemaster pump rifle .

Using a Lyman 173 gr GC cast bullet and IMR 4895 in all.

Edit add- Let me make it more clear. No crimp needed. :)
 
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If you are going to shoot cast loads in a Garand, I would put a little roll crimp on them in addition to ironing out the flare just in anticipation of the slam-bang. I have used with and without crimp in my bolt guns and don't see a difference. Definitely use a crimp in heavy recoiling guns like 45-70, etc.
 
243winxb said:
I expanded with a Lyman "M" die. Loaded and fired without a crimp in 30-30 , M94, TC Contender and 30-06, 1903 Springfield, Remington 760 Gamemaster pump rifle .

Using a Lyman 173 gr GC cast bullet and IMR 4895 in all.

Edit add- Let me make it more clear. No crimp needed. :)
Click to expand...
I understand. I wonder if the gas check acts similarly to the base of a jacketed round and helps ease them into the neck. I'm loading plain base lead 170 grain Laser Cast so far. The only expander I have is the Lee which puts a little bell that needs to be removed.
 
It looks like you bought the Lee RGB set. The Lee Pacesetter 2 die set comes with a bullet seater/crimping die. I think most other die sets (2 die sets) from other manufacturers, the bullet seater is also a crimping die. I know the RCBS ones are. Maybe purchasing another die to smooth out the bell maybe in order.
I load for the 30-30 and use an expanding die to flare the case for my cast bullets. I usually seat all the bullets, readjust the die and then go back through and crimp all of them because of the tub magazine.
 
I was going to add that there are taper crimp dies available for 30-06 but ArchAngelCD mentioned them first.

A taper crimp would make removing the bell easier than the FCD crimper but the FCD would certainly work if adjusted correctly.

I believe Lee used to make them, if I remember correctly it is the 30-06 taper crimp die I have. But I do not think Lee catalogs them any more. (Sorry, I'm not at home at present)
 
The advice to crimp lightly is bang on. The danger in crimping cast is that you may size-down the bullet, inviting possible leading of the bore. If you flare the case mouth, and do not at least iron the flare out, your ammunition may not chamber. All that is required is to iron the flare tight to the bullet or give the case mouth a taper crimp equal to about one-half the case mouth. The FCD for rifles can be set to provide whatever amount of crimp you want/need.
 
Quit trying to shoot pills and you don't need a crimp for any bullet. Crimps are for hot loads in heavy recoiling cartridges and lever actions.
"...removing the bell..." No bells in bottle necked rifle cartridges.
 
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